Toaster



N. SCHAFNITZ TOASTER Filed Oct. 16, 1941 Dec. 14, 1943.

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Patented Dec. 14, 1943 TOASTER Nicholesschafnitz, st. Louis, M0., assigner to Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a

rcorporation of Missouri Application october 1e, 1941, semi No. 115,236 s (ones-401) My present invention relates to a toaster, and particularly to constructional features of the vcasing thereoil One object of the invention is to provide a ,toaster casing which may be inexpensively and quickly fabricatd from a base plate, a pair of side plates and a U-shaped assembly strip extending along the top and down the ends of the side plates, the side plates hafving door openings, and doors being hingedly mounted therein. p

Another object is to provide the foregoing listed toastercasing elements so arranged that they fit together during assembly without the use of bolts,

such manner that the base plate is supported relav tive to the side plates, and the side plates have inwardly directed flanges adjacent the tops and bottoms of their door openings to engage and support the heating element, the side plates being then retained in assembled position by the twisting of ears passing through the heating element and the insertion of grid wires, after' which the parts are permanently retained assembled by the addition ofthe U-shaped assembly strip.

A further object is to provide the various parts of the toaster casing so designed that they may be readily stampedfrom sheet metal so that the only further operation for fabrication of the toaster is the placing of the parts togetherV and the bending of certain sheet metal ears to retain them assembled.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various partsof my device whereby the objectscontemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accom-` panying drawing.'V Although the invention is susceptible of a variety of embodiments, it is unnecessary to fully describe and illustrate more Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section thereofl on the line 2-2 of Figure-1, with the lower righthandv corner showing a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 4; N I

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line '3 3 of Figure 2, showing only one end .of the toaster, as the opposite end'is symmetrical relative thereto;

` rivets or the like, and without the necessity of Figure 4 'is a bottom planview of the toaster showing only one end, as the opposite end is similar in construction; and

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views on the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Figure 3 to show the manner in which the heating element is supported.

On the accompanying drawing I have shown a toaster casing which consists essentially of four parts, a base plate B, a side plate S, a door D and an assembly strip A. Two identical side plates S and two identical doors D are used in the assembly of a toaster casing, as will hereinafter appear. In addition to the four elements just referred to,.I have shown a heating element H and a grid wire G. The heating element H is shown as a vertical sheet of insulation, such asmica or the like, but no attempt has been made to show than one in order to give a full understanding of the invention both from its structural and functional standpoints. Accordingly, I have illustrated a. preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawing, in which:

bodying my invention; y

the resistance ribbon thereon, which forms no part of my present invention. Likewise, the supply cord and wiring for such resistance ribbon have been omitted. t

The base plate B is a substantially fiat plate having a pair of side marginal edges, indicated at IU, and a pair of end marginal edges indicated at I2. The plate is notched at each corner, with two notches I3, as best shown in Figure 4, whereby the portion between the notches constitutes an `ear I4. Adjacent the ear I4 a downward depression I5 is formed in the metal of the base plate for the purpose of forming a supporting foot or button.

`Each side plate S` is provided with inwardly directed side iianges,v I6 which extend partially along the ends, as at I1, the transition area between i and I1 being indicated at I8. The

transitionwareas I8 are bumped upwardly, as indicated by semi-circular shading I9 in Figure 4, and as shown in cross-section at the lower right corner of Figure 2, Accordingly, the transition area I8 extends above the base plate ear I4, while the anges |6- and I1 extend below the marginal edges I0 and I2 of the base plate when the parts are assembled.

Each side plate S is provided with a door opening defined by a pair of side flanges 20, a top ange 2I and a bottom flange 22. The ilanges 2 r y zo, 2| and :z au extend inwardly and are or varying.; widths, as illustrated. The fianges23 are nanrowest, and are perforated, as at 23, for

the purpose oi' receiving tubular .pintles 24 pressed outwardly from side flanges 25 of the doors D. During assembly the pintles are forced between the flanges 20, which flanges are sprung apart 4enough to permit the pintles to enter the perforations '23, and the ilanges then spring back and the door is thereafter retained in hinging relation with respectto the side plate.

The upper flanges 2l extend inwardly and terminate in 'marginal edges, bent downwardly to form heating element supporting flanges 26. Likewise, the bottom flanges 22 terminate in upwardly extending vertical anges 21 for cooper.- ating with the heating element H to support it. The element H is positioned between the anges 28 and 21, as shown in Figure 2, and to retain the heating element against shifting in the vertical plane the ilanges 23 have ears 28 extending through perforations in the heating element and perforations in the opposite iiange 2l, as shown in Figure 5. Similarly, the loweranges 21 haveears 29 which may be twisted, as shown in Figure 6, to prevent the side plates from coming apart after their assembly relative to the heating element H.

For preventing the upper flanges 28 from separating from the heating element the ears 28 are not bent, but, instead, a U-shaped upper end 33 of the grid wire G is arranged to straddle the two flanges 26, the grid wire passing through slotted openings 3i in the flanges 2| for this purpose. Any desired number of the grid wires may be used. three of them being shown on the drawing. 'I'heir lower ends pass freely through slotted openings 32 in the lower flanges 22.

The grid wires G, in addition to spacing the slices oi' bread from the heating element H, serve as a tension means to keep the doors D in their upper position when the toaster is closed. The doors for this purpose are provided with inwardly extending flanges 33 at theirlower ends, which arel slotted, as at 34, to receive the grid wires, as shown in Figure 3. 'I'he left side oi' Figure 2 illustratesone of the doors open, while the right side illustrates the door closed; in which position the bottom of the groove 34 coacts with the grid wire to spring it inwardly against its normal tendency tospring outwardly and thereby the tension of the grid wire is imposed on the. flange 33. 'I'he slots 32 permit this springing movement. 'j

The doors D may be provided-z` with operating ing oi the ears 33 and the coaction o1' the U- shaped portion 33 offthe grid wires G with the ilanges 28 accomplish in a temporary manner during the assembly operations) by the lower ends of the webs 38* being turned inwardly a3 at 38h, to contact with the bottom of the base plate B, and the inal step in the assembly is to bend ears 4I on the terminal ends of the webs 38 upwardly through perforations 42 in the base B. The parts are now held in assembled relation until such time as'the ears 4i are removed from the perforations 42 for disassembly purposses.

From the foregoing description it is believed obvious how I have provided a comparatively simple toaster construction wherein a minimum of sheet metal parts are formed, and the operations for assembly are reduced to a minimum. The result is a comparatively inexpensive, yet rugged, toaster casing structure wherein the use of rivets and other fastening means are entirely eliminated. One spot-welding operation is used, and this involves the attachment of an angleshaped stop strip 43 to each flange 2| of the side plates S, against which the upper edge' of the door D engages to prevent the door fromv swinging too far inwardly in its closed position, and to more completely close the upper edge of the door against the escape of heat.

Some changes may be made in the constructien and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modiiled forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope` without sacrificing any of the advantages I claim as my invention: K l. In a toaster, a substantially flat baseplate, a'pair of side plates upstanding therefrom and having in-turned flanges provided with portions above and other portions below said base plate to thereby supportingly cooperate with the base plate, said side plates being spaced from each thereof.

other along their ends and tops and having outturned flanges therealong, a U-shaped assembly handles 35 in any desired manner. I have shown ears 36 cut from sheet`metal, forming the door and curving outwardly around the edge ofthe side plateto the handles 35 which are secured thereto, as by rivets 31.

The final step in the assembly of my toaster casing is to place the U-shaped assembly strip A in position and secure it. The strip A is channel-shapedin cross-section. as shown ,in Figures 2 and 4, the web thereof being indicated at 38 and 38, and the flanges thereof at 39 and 39a. The web and flanges 38 and 39 extend down the ends of the toaster. 'I'he flanges 39 and 39 cooperate with flanges 40 and 40* extending along the tops and down the ends of the side plates S. When the flanges 33 cooperate with the flanges 40, and the' flanges 39* cooperate with the ilanges 40, the side plates .S are permanently -retained against any further spreading action) ,in a more rigid manner than the twiststrip having a channel-shaped cross-section toA fit over said out-turned flanges of said side plates and having its terminal ends extending under said base plate' and terminating in ears extended upwardly through perforations in said base plate,

said side plates having door openings therein and doors hinged in said openings.

2. In a toaster, a substantially flat base plate, a pair of side plates having door iopenings therein, doors hinged in said openings, said side plates having inturned ilanges supporting said base plate and retaining it against bending, said side plates having along their ends and tops outturned flanges, a U-shaped assemblystrip. having achanneled cross-section to t over said flanges and having its terminal ends extending under said base plate, and means to secure said terminal ends to said base plate.

3. In a toa-ster, a base plate, a pair of side '.plates upstanding therefrom, said side plates,

along their ends and tops, having out-turned ilanges, a U-shaped assembly strip having a along their ends and tops, having out-turned anges, a U-shaped assembly strip having a channeled cross-section to t over the flanges of said side plates and having its terminal ends extending under said base plate and terminating in ears extended upwardly through perforations in said base plate to constitute the sole means for retaining said base plate ,and said side plates assembled.

5. In a toaster, a base plate, a pair of side plates upstanding therefrom and having inturned flanges cooperating with said base plate, said flanges engaging the marginal edges of said base plate and vbeing arranged partially above said marginal edges and partially below them to retain the base plate in assembled relation to the side plates, said base plate having supporting parts adjacent the portions of said marginal edges below said flanges of said side plates, and a U-shaped assembly strip having a channeled cross-section to fit over the edges of said side plates and having its terminal ends connected with said base plate.

6. In a toaster, a base plate, a pair of side plates upstandving therefrom and having inturned anges supportingly cooperating with saidbase plate, said flanges engaging the marginal edges of said baseplate and being arranged partially above said marginal edges and partially 1below them to support the base plate relative to the side plates, said base plate having supporting parts adjacent the portions of said marginal edges belowsaid flanges of said plates, and means to retain said side plates against spreading.

7. In a toaster, a base plate, a pair of side plates upstanding therefrom, a U-shaped assembly strip having a channeled cross-section to iit over the marginal edges of 'said side plates to prevent them from spreading, the terminal ends of said strip extending under said base plate and terminating in ears extended upwardly through perforations therein, said side plates having inturned anges provided with offset portions, said base plate resting on said anges and having parts located below said oiset portions, said parts being provided with supports for the toaster.

8. In' a toaster, a base plate, a pair of side plates upstanding therefrom and spaced from each other along their ends and tops, out-turned flanges along said ends and tops, a U-shaped assembly strip having a channeled cross-section to fit over said anges of said side plates and having its terminal ends extending under said base plate and terminating in ears extending upwardly through perforations therein, said side plates having door openings therein, doorskfor said openings, said side plates having inwardly extending vertical flanges at the sides of said door openings, said last anges being perforated and said doors having pintles extending through said perforations for hinging the doors relative to the side plates.

NICHOLAS SCHAFNITZ. 

